Christmas tree electric socket and support-holder



A. ABRAMSON Oct. 13, 1936.

CHRISTMAS TREE ELECTRIC SOCKET AND SUPPORT HOLDER Filed Jan. 28, 1936 INVENTOR ,4B/54 HAM /QBFAMSO/V ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 13, 1936 PATENT OFFICE CHRISTMAS TREE ELECTRIC SOCKET AND SUPPORT-HOLDER Abraham Abramson, New York, N. Y., assignor to Raylite Trading Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 28, 1936, Serial No. 61,161

8 Claims. (Cl. 240-10) This invention relates to portable lighting outfits, such as are used for Christmas trees and other illuminated display purposes. More particularly, the invention is directed to an improvement in electric light sockets of portable lighting outfits fitted with support-holders for attaching or mounting such outfits to a fixed support or to a branch of a Christmas tree.

Among the objects of the invention is the general improvement of devices of the character described in which a simplified construction of few, easily assembled parts are provided, which shall be economical to manufacture, especially in quantity production, and which shall be practical and eiicient to a high degree in use. y

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

'I'he invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplied in the .constructions hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which are shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention:

Figure 1 is a, longitudinal cross-sectional view of an electric light socket, such as is used in Christmas tree lighting outfits, fitted with a support-holder constructed to embody the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are top and bottom views, re-` spectively, of the electric socket and supportholder shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the improved support-holder removedv from the casing or husk of the electric light socket shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an electric light socket fitted with a supportholder showing another form of construction embodying the invention.

Figure 6 is a top view of the improved constructionl of the socket with' the support-holder shown in Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective of another form of support-holder embodying the invention removed from its assembled position on an electric light socket.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of still another electric light socket fitted with a support-holder showing a modified form of the invention in which portions of the casing or husk are constructed to cooperate with the gripping means of said support-holder.

vopening 2lb may also be provided with similar Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in Fig. 8.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line |0||l in Fig. 8, and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of an electric 5 light socket fitted with spaced support-holders in which the flexing of either said support-holder parts or the support may provide a gripping effect.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 20 denotes an assembly of an electric light socket 2| such as is used in Christmas trees or portable display lighting outfits, provided with' a support-holder or fitting 22 constructed to embody the invention. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the socket 2| may be of any conventional make, as for example sockets having a molded insulated husk 2|a forming a casing about a metallic screw shell 25 of a lamp receptacle, into which the base of a bulb or lamp 23 is mounted. Said lamp 23 20 may receive power from a suitable source (not shown) through lead wires 24 connecting the lamp 23 in circuit through the scre'w shell 22a in the well understood manner.

The casing or husk 2|a may be formed with an outwardly flared top opening portion 2lb, the inner side of said portion having uniformly spaced recesses 2|c provided therein. The bottom end 2|d of the casing 2|a, opposite the top uniformly spaced recesses 2| e, located in alignment with said recesses 2|c in portion 2lb.

For attaching the electric light socket 2| to a fixed support or branch ofa Christmas tree, the support-holder or tting 22 ,is provided. Said tting 22 is seen to comprise a strip, preferably of a springy sheet material, such as fibre, brass, copper, steel, aluminum or the like. Said strip is bent over on itself on a mid-portion thereof to form an upper loop or bight 22a between a back portion 22h and av spring end 22e. The latter may have a tongue cut therefrom at 22d to project beyond the bight 22a to provide an upper hook extension 22e. The lower free end of the back portion 22h terminates in a lower hook extension 22j which cooperates in forming attachment means for securing the tting 22 to the socket 2|.

As seen from Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the upper hook extension-22e firmly engages over the rim of the ared top opening portion 2lb and extends into one of the recesses 2|c, while the lower hook extension 22,1' engages over the rim at the bottom end 2|d o f the husk 2|a and extends into the recess 2|e which is located in l inserting such support betweenthe back portion alignment with said recess`2ic.l The fitting 22 is vthus securely fastened to the socket 2| to form a unit with the backvportion 22h of the strip retained in close contact with the outside surface of the husk 2|a, the bight 22a being positioned under the flared portion 2lb, and the spring end 22e locatedfor exinr to clampingly. receive asupportAw or tree branch S betweenA it and said back portion 22h. If desired, suitable frictional surfacing means, such as corrugations 22g or the like, may be provided on said back portion 22h or on the spring end 22e, or'on both as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Said frictional means '22g' serve to keep the socket 2| from accidentally slipping from a mounted position on the support or tree branch S.

In Fig. 1l is shown the socket 2|l having two iittings 22 applied thereto in spaced relation. Obviously more than two fittings 22 could be utilized in a similar manner. By using a plurality of fittings 22, lying in different planes about the circular Acontour surface of the socket 2|, when necessary, an increased stability of mounting of the socket 2| to the support or tree branch S may be obtained. In such cases at least two points of attachment are provided and where the support or tree branch S has an inherentl amount of spring or give an additionalv gripping effect is made available.

The use of devices embodying the invention is now apparent. By simply constructing and assembling the parts described above and shown in Figs. l to 4, inclusive, or Fig. 11, the sockets 2| of portable lighting outfits can be mounted on supports or Christmas tree branches S by 22h and spring end 22e of each fitting 22. Said spring end 22o may be made with an outwardly bent finger grip to facilitate the insertion of the support S and to provide a convenient handling means. The support S will then be firmly clamped by the fitting A22 and where the frictional means 22gare provided, the latter may serve to bite into such support.

Where, as shown in Fig. 11, a plurality of fittings 22 are provided on the socket 2l, the support S is inserted between the back portion 22h and spring end 22c of each fitting 22. It will be noted that since -the fittings 22 lie in different planes an increased rigidity of mounting is made available for conditions requiring the same.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown another embodiment of the invention. Here socket'3l, instead of having recesses 2|c in the ared top opening thereof as in socket 2| shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with spaced through passages Bib where through the upper hook end 32e of the fitting 32 extends. t

It is apparent that like the embodiment of the invention, already described above and shown in Fig. 11, socket 3| may be provided with more than two fittings 32 (not shown) to form a unit.

In Fig. 7 another improved form of fitting 42 is shown. Here instead of providing corrugations on. the back portion 42h of the strip, side serrations 42g form part of the frictional surface means.

`In Figs. 8, 9, and 10 another modification of the invention is shown which is seen to differ fromthose above described in providing parallelly spaced serrated .ribs 5|f projecting from the outer surface of the socket husk Sla. The fitting 52 may be secured to said socket 5| in any suitable manner, as for example as has already been described above and shown Figs. 1 and 5.

one or more of said fittings 52 being mounted between each pair of ribs 5|f. 'I'he spring end 52e of each fitting 52 may be provided with spaced spurs or teeth 52g which cooperate with v the serrated ribs 5| f for frictionally gripping l the support or tree branch S.

All embodiments of the invention operate in the manner described above for the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, or Fig. 11.

It will thus be seen that there are provided devices whereby, the several objects of this invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use. f

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the character described, a

support-holder fitting adapted to be secured to an electric socket comprising a strip of sheet metal bent in a mid-portion thereof to provide a bight between a back portion and spring end, said midportion being cut to provide a tongue bent in hook shape to extend beyond said bight, a. hook end extension on said back portion, said hook tongue and hook end being adapted to engage with spaced parts of said socket for securing the fittings thereto.

2. A unit of the character described comprising an electric light socket having a husk for housing a lamp shell receptacle, said husk being formed with a top opening and a bottom side opposite said opening, the rim portions of said opening and bottom side having spaced aligned recesses, and a support-holder fitting formed of a springy strip material, said material having spaced hook extensions for engaging with said aligned recesses to secure the fitting to the husk.

3. A unit of the character described comprising an electric light socket having a husk for housing a lamp shell receptacle, said husk being formed with a top opening and a bottom side opposite said opening, the rim portions of said opening andbottom side having sets of spaced aligned recesses, and a plurality of support-holder fittings secured in spaced relation to extend in different planes about said husk, each fitting being formed of a strip of springy material and having spaced hook extensions for engaging one set of said opposite said top opening,'the rim portion of said opening and bottom side having recesses, and a support-holder fitting formed of a strip of springy material folded over on a mid-section thereof to provide a loop between a back portion and a springy end, said strip having hooks extended from spaced portions thereof for engaging in said recesses to secure the fitting to the husk.

6. A unit of the character described comprising an electric light socket having a husk for housing a. lamp shell receptacle, said husk being formed with a top opening and a bottom side opposite said opening, .rim portions of said opening andbottom side having recesses. a supportholder fitting formed of a strip of springy material folded over on. a mid-section thereof to provide a loop between a back portion and a. spring end, said strip having hooks extended from spaced portions thereof for engaging in said recesses to secure the iitting to the husk. and frictional engagement means on said stripvextending between said back portion and spring end for clampingly gripping a support interposed between said portion and end.

7. A unit of the character described comprising an electric light socket having a husk for housing a lamp shell receptacle, said husk being formed with a top opening and a bottom side opposite said opening, rim portions of said opening and bottom side having sets oi spaced aligned recesses, a plurality of support-holder fittings secured in spaced relation to extend in different planes about said husk, each tltting being formed of a strip of springy material folded over on a mid-section thereof to provide a loop between a back portion and a springy end, said strip having hooks extending from spaced portions thereof for engaging one set o! said aligned recesses.

8. A unit of the character described comprising an electric light socket having a top opening and a bottom side, and a support-holder tting formed with spaced extending engageable ends, the rim of said top opening formed with anchoring means cooperating with one of said engageable ends and the bottom side formed with anchoring means for engaging with another o! said engageable ends to secure the fitting to the socket.

ABRAHAM ABRAMSON. 

